Nutrition & Dietetics (M.S.)

• Brookings Main Campus

Improving the health and quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) work in a wide variety of settings, including healthcare facilities, corporate wellness, sports nutrition, schools, food industry, community and public health. The master’s in Nutrition & Dietetics (NDMS) program is an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program with supervised experiential learning of 1,000+ hours incorporated throughout this competency-based program. Students accepted into the program with the required NDMS prerequisites (49 credits) can complete the program in three years. Including prerequisites, completion of the entire bachelor’s to master’s degree program takes approximately five years. Any type of undergraduate major, prior to applying to the NDMS is accepted, dependent on whether the specific NDMS prerequisites are met. Students enrolled in the Nutrition & Dietetics (B.S.) program for the first 4 semesters of that program’s plan of study will meet the NDMS prerequisites. Other undergraduate majors in Community & Public Health, Exercise Science, Pharmacy and Nursing include many of the required NDMS prerequisites in their plans of study as well.    

By 2024, a master’s degree will be required to become a RDN. Graduates who successfully complete the accredited NDMS at SDState are eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a RDN. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected job outlook for RDNs by 2030 is expected to grow by 11%, which is faster than the national average for all occupations.